Download Grade 9

Grade 9
Word List
Biological Diversity – the number and variety of organisms
Species- a specific type of living organism
Speciation – when a type of organism evolves into a variety of a similar species
Structural Adaptation – when a species’ physical characteristics change (evolve) to
better cope with its habitat.
Behavioural Adaptation – when a species’ behaviour changes to better cope with its
environment. (i.e. migrating or mating dances)
Diversity Index – a way scientists measure an area’s biological diversity
Environment –
Competition –
Niche – an organism’s ecological job
Broad Niche – when an organism are able to adapt to a variety of environments and
situations.
Generalist – an organism with a broad niche
Narrow Niche – when an organism has very specific needs and therefore has only
adapted to one type of environment.
Specialist – an organism with a narrow niche. (i.e. a koala only eats eucalyptus
Symbiotic – a relationship two organisms have where they both gain benefits.
Topic 3
Heritable – characteristic traits passed down from the previous generation
Asexual Reproduction - occurs when only one parent passes genetic info
Sexual Reproduction – when two parents pass genetic info.
Binary Fission – asexual reproduction of one celled organisms
Spores – a single celled reproductive structure of some asexually reproductive organisms
(ferns, mushrooms, mould)
Meristem – Rapidly reproducing cells at the growing tips of stems and roots
Clones – offspring with the exact genetics as the parent
Budding – when a piece of an organism (a bud) is released and grows into a complete
organism. (sea sponges)
Bacterial Conjugation – when genetic information in transferred between bacteria
Zygote – the first cell of a growing organism
Flower anatomy
Pistil – female reproductive organ
Stamen – male reproductive organ
Ovule – contains the egg
Pollen – male seed (sperm)
Anther – part of stamen
Stigma and Style – parts of the pistil
Cotyledons – food source of seeds
Embryo – multicellular form taken as zygote divides
Topic 4
Genetics – study of heredity
Continuous Variation – traits that have numerous possibilities (height, hand span)
Discrete Variation – Traits with only a few possibilities (blood type, tongue rolling)
Dominant Gene – characteristic trait that will always show up (black hair over blonde)
Recessive Gene – trait often shadowed, but remains
Mutation – changes in genetic info
Mutagens – things that cause mutations (X-rays, chemicals)
DNA – blueprint of genetic traits
Chromosomes - bundled strands of DNA
Nucleotide Pair – pairing in DNA that provides variety in the code
Somatic Cell – any non-sex cell
Sperm and Egg - male and female sex cells
Genetic Engineering – altering DNA to gain desired traits
Biotechnology – means to gaining desired traits
Topic 6
Artificial Selection – gaining desirable traits (breeding dogs)
Selective Breeding – actively choosing individuals to breed with desired traits
Natural Selection – theory that desired traits evolve naturally within a species
Topic 7
Bioindicator species – species used by biologist to assess habitat interference
Grade 9 Terms
Unit 2
Matter – anything that has mass and takes up space
Solid – State of matter that has a definite shape and volume
Liquid – state of matter that has definite volume but no definite shape
Gas – state of matter with no definite shape or volume
Fluids – liquids and gas because they flow
Condensation, evaporation, melting (fusion), freezing (solidification), sublimation
Topic 2
Pure Substance – object containing only one type of particle
Mixture – contains two or more substances
Element – contains one type of atom
Compound – contains two or more types of atoms but still the same throughout (water,
salt)
Homogeneous – a mixture that is the same throughout (solutions)
Solutions – the only homogeneous mixture (paint)
Heterogeneous – mixtures containing two or more materials that are still visible
Suspension – a heterogeneous mixture in which the particles settle slowly (oil/vinegar
dressing)
Colloid – heterogeneous mixture where particles do not settle, they stay dispersed (whip
cream)
Emulsion – colloids having an emulsifying agent (mayonnaise)
Mechanical Mixture – heterogeneous mixture where the separate parts are easily seen
(bird seed)
Dissolving – mixing a solute into a solvent
Solute – substance being dissolved
Solvent – substance doing the dissolving
Soluble – being able to be dissolved
Agitation – shaken or stirred when dissolving
Solubility – the mass of a solute that can be dissolve in a given amount of solvent to form
a saturated solution
Saturated Solution – one in which no more solute can dissolve
Unsaturated Solution – one in which more solute can dissolve
Supersaturated Solution – solution that has taken more solute than it normally would
dissolve.
Topic 3 and 4
Desalination – taking the salt out of water
Flow Rate – the speed at which a fluid “runs”
Viscosity – describing a fluids thickness
Viscous – thicker liquids
Topic 5
Density – the “crowdedness” of particles within a substance. How much mass per unit
volume it takes up
Mass – the amount of matter in a substance
Volume – the amount of space a substance takes up
Weight – the force of gravity acting upon an object
Force – a push or pull acting on an object
Gravity – a natural force causing one object to move toward another (or the Earth)
Topic 6, 7 and 8
Buoyancy – the tendency for materials to rise or float in fluids
Floating – when an object does not fall in air or sink in water
Neutral Buoyancy – when gravity equals buoyancy
Archimedes – Greek who related buoyant force and displacement of fluids
Pressure – the amount of force acting on a certain area
Pascal – unit of measure for pressure
Incompressible – not being compressed (solids and liquids)
Barometer – device used to measure air pressure
Hydraulics – applying forces with liquids
Pneumatics – applying forces with gases
Grade 9
Chemistry and Exam Terms
Chemistry – study of matter and how it changes
Matter – anything that has mass and takes up space
Caustic – materials that will burn, corrode or destroy organic tissue
Organic – relating to living things
Tissue – a group of cells that work together
Mixtures – two or more pure substances together
Homogeneous – mixtures where particles are uniformly scattered (solutions)
Heterogeneous – mixtures where particles are not uniformly scattered (mechanical,
suspensions and colloids)
Pure Substances – elements and compounds
Element – substance made of one type of particle and cannot be broken down
Compounds – substances made of two or more elements and can be broken down
Mass – amount of matter in a substance
Definite – fixed or exact
Proportions – parts of
Conservation – with respect to reaction, amounts stay the same
Chemical Change – occurs when a new substance forms
Physical change – no new substance forms, only physical characteristics change
Electrolysis – breaking apart compounds using electricity
Atoms – Smallest form of matter that can exist on its own
Sub-atomic particles – particles that make up atoms
Electron – negatively charged particles that surround the nucleus of an atom
Nucleus – centre of
Proton – positively charged sub-atomic particle that partially makes up the nucleus
Neutron – portion of an atom’s nucleus with no charge
Electron Cloud – area above an atom’s nucleus where electrons encircle
Atomic Symbol – letter symbol on Periodic Table that represents an element’s name
Atomic Number – number given to an element on the Periodic Table to represent the
amount of protons within its nucleus
Metals – elements with the properties of: lustre, malleable, ductile and with the ability to
conduct heat and electricity
Non-metal – elements without these properties
Metalloid – elements with some properties of a metal but act chemically as a non-metal
Malleable – able to be hammered out into a sheet
Ductile – able to be drawn out into a wire
Conduct – able to have something (heat or electricity) move through it
Chemical Family – group of elements with similar properties
Alkali Metals – metals in group 1 with one electron in their outer shell and are very
reactive
Alkaline Earth Metals – metals in group 2 that not as reactive but still very reactive as
they have two electrons in their outer shell
Halogens – Non-metals in group17 wanting one more electron to stabilize and therefore
are very reactive
Noble Gases (aka Inert) – elements in group 18 with full outer electron shells that are not
reactive
Atomic Mass – average mass of an element’s atom
Periodic Table – chart used to organize elements
Ionic Compounds - compounds made from the bonding of a metal with a non-metal, that
form ions and conduct electricity
Molecular Compounds – compounds formed from the bonding of two non-metals that
form molecules and are not good conductors
Ion – a charged particle
Chemical Formula – symbols and numbers used to represent the composition of pure
substances
Binary Compound – compound made of two elements
Chemical Reaction – when two or more substances undergo a reorganization of atoms
Reactants – Substances going through the reaction
Products – substances produced by the reaction
Chemical Equation – writing a chemical reaction using symbols to represent reactants
and products
Chemical Bond – forces keeping atoms together
Exothermic – a reaction that gives off energy
Endothermic – a reaction that requires energy
Reaction Rate – how fast a reaction occurs
Catalyst – a substance that speeds up a reaction without being used up itself
Enzyme - a catalyst made by living things
Corrosion – oxidation of metals or rocks
Oxidation – corroding in the presence of air or water
Rust – a particular type of corrosion dealing with iron
Galvanization – coating metals with zinc to prevent corrosion
Combustion – an exothermic reaction of burning a hydrocarbon in the presence of
oxygen
Hydrocarbon – a compound made primarily of hydrogens and carbons
Electricity Vocabulary
Electricity – a physical phenomena occurring from the behaviour of electrons and protons
caused by attractions and repulsions.
Mechanical Energy – energy provided by moving parts
Chemical Energy – energy provided by a chemical reaction
Thermal Energy – energy provided by heat
Electrical Energy – energy provided by the movement of electrons
Static Electricity – the build up of charge
Current Electricity – the constant flow of electric charge
Electric Charge – a build up of protons or electrons
Balanced Charges – equal numbers of protons and electrons
Unbalanced Charges – an excess of either protons or electrons causing a positive or
negative charge
Atoms – smallest form of matter that exists on its own
Sub-atomic Particles – particles making up atoms
Protons – positively charged particles found in the nucleus of atoms
Electrons – negatively charged particles found orbiting an atom’s nucleus
Neutrons – sub-atomic particles with no charge
Negative Charge – an excess of electrons
Positive Charge – an excess of protons
Neutral – an equal amount of protons and electrons
Laws of Charges (3) – 1) opposite charges attract one another
2) like charges repel one another
3) charged particles attract neutral ones
Attract – bring closer
Repel – push away from
Conductor – a substance that allows electricity to flow through it
(give examples)
Insulator – a substance that does not allow electricity to flow through it
(give examples)
Superconductor – a substance that allows electricity to flow freely with little to no
resistance
Semiconductor – a substance with resistance that reduced the flow the electricity
Grounding – connecting an object to Earth to safely rebalance a charge
Electrostatic Buildup – accumulation of charges
Circuit – a closed circular line consisting of a source and conductors
Load – a device on a circuit that changes electricity into another source of energy
Source – device on a circuit that provides the electric current
Circuit Diagram – an illustration of a circuit using specific symbols
Cell – a device that delivers electric current due to a chemical reaction
Battery – a current producing device containing more than one cell
Switch (or control) – a device that breaks and closes a circuit
Lamp (light) – a device that transforms electric energy into light energy
Resistor – a device that resists the flow of electricity, often changing it into another form
Conducting Wire – drawn out metals that allow electricity to flow in a circuit
Nichrome Wire – wire often used in labs that allow some electricity to flow but produces
much resistance
Current – the amount of electric charge flowing past a specific circuit point per unit time
(also give its symbol) I
Potential Difference – the amount of energy per unit charge needed to move a charged
particle from a specific point on a circuit to another
(also give its symbol) V
Resistance – restricting the flow of electric charge
(also give its symbol) R
Time – a measurement of “how long” it takes to do something
Ammeter – a device used to measure larger currents
Galvanometer – a device used to measure weak current
Amps – unit used to measure current
Volts – unit used to measure potential difference (voltage)
Ohms – unit used to measure resistance
Ohm’s Law – resistance is the ratio of potential difference over current
R=V/I
Home Voltage Value – 120 V
Resistance Math Equation – R = V / I
Problem Solving Triangle for Resistance Equation –
V
R
I
Rheostat – a continuously variable resistor used to regulate current
Variable Resistor – a resistor that changes – regulating current
Polygraph – electrical device used to determine if a person is lying
Series Circuit – a circuit where electricity has only one path to take
- the current stays the same throughout but the voltage can chage
Parallel Circuit – a circuit with more than one branch for electricity to take
- the voltage stays the same but the current can chage
Factors Affecting a Wire’s Resistance – length of wire, cross section, temperature,
material used
Energy – the ability to do work
Thermocouple – a device often using two different metals at two different points that
measures a temperature difference and when one side is heated, produces current
Thermo-electric Generator – based on a thermocouple, a device that converts heat energy
into electric energy
Piezoelectric crystal – a crystal that when squeezed or pulled causes vibrations that
produce a current.
Light Emitting Diode (LED) – electronic components that glow when electricity paces
through them. They use semiconductors and therefore use less power.
Photovoltaic Cell – a source of electricity that uses light energy to excite electrons and
move them, thus creating electricity.
Electrochemical Cell – a source of energy that converts chemical energy into electric
energy (battery).
Electrode – metal conductor in a cell or battery.
Electrolyte – substance that conducts an electric current (liquid or paste)
Primary Cell – a non-rechargeable cell. The amount of chemicals dictates the amount of
energy it can output.
Secondary Cell – a rechargeable cell. These use chemical reactions that can be reversed.
Wet Cell – an electric energy source (cell/battery) that uses liquid as its electrolyte.
Dry Cell – an electric energy source that uses a paste as its electrolyte
Fuel Cell – another term for an energy source (battery)
Generator – a device that converts mechanical energy into electric energy
Motor – a device that produces motion
St. Louis Motor – a motor that uses a changing magnetic field to move its parts
Magnetism – physical phenomena involving the attracting and repelling of various metals
Electromagnet – a device that uses electric current to create a magnetic field
Coil of Wire – wire that has been curled
Alternating Current (AC)- current that moves back and forth
Direct Current (DC) – current that moves in one direction only
Dynamo – a generator that produces direct current
Commutator – circular metal of a machine connected to the current carrying coil
Armature – rotating part of a dynamo
Brush – sliding connection completing a circuit between a fixed and a moving conductor.
DC Motor – a motor working in direct current
AC Motor – a motor working in alternating current
Rotor – the rotating core of an AC motor
Stator – stationary component surrounding the rotor
Transformer – devices that either “step up” or “step down” voltage when it travels
Circuit Breaker – a safety switch that can cut off power to the home if the current exceeds
a safe level.
Fuse – a device that contains a metallic conductor that melts when excessive current heats
it up
Transistor – electronic switches in digital devices
Electric Power – energy per unit time
(provide symbol) P
Mathematical Equation for Power –
P = IV
Problem Solving Triangle for Power Equation –
P
I V
Watt – unit measuring power
Kilowatt – one thousand watts. Generally what is used to measure power in houses.
Kilowatt Hours – unit of electric energy; the amount of energy transmitted by one
thousand watts of power over one hour
Electric Efficiency – the relationship of energy inputted to outputted
Efficiency = energy output
-----------------energy input
Flare Gas – waste gas from natural gas facilities
Incandescent Bulb – light bulb that uses a metal (tungsten) that glows when heated
Halogen Bulbs – filled with gas that contains iodine that helps the filament from
evapourating
Fluorescent Bulbs – uses gases such as mercury vapour that emits energy when heated.
Short Circuit – occurs when two bare wires touch resulting high current flowing between
them and often sparking
Renewable Resource – energy sources that can be replenished (wood, biomass)
Non-renewable Resource – resources that are consumed faster than nature can replenish
them (fossil fuels)
Open Pit Mining – mining for fuels by digging a large hole
Scrubbers – used in factories to clean emissions, usually sulfates
Greenhouse Gases – gases that contribute the greenhouse effect (carbon dioxide)
Global Warming – the consistent increase in the globes average temperature.
Sulfates – pollutant emissions with sulfur as its main element
Nitrates – pollutants with nitrogen as its main element
Carbonates – pollutants with carbon as its main element
Hydro-electricity – producing electricity using the movement of water
Nuclear Fission – splitting uranium into two smaller atoms
Nuclear Fusion – joining smaller atoms to make larger ones
Thermonuclear – using heat in a nuclear power plant
Thermo pollution – occurs when warm water from a power plant is released into a
lake/river altering the temperature of the environment
Cogeneration – generating stations that produce electricity and thermal energy.
Geothermal Energy – thermal energy from the Earth
Solar Energy - energy from the Sun. (light energy)
Space Terms
Frame of Reference – your viewpoint based on your location in the universe
Celestial Body - anything in space
Constellations – a group of stars that make a pattern. Used for early navigation.
Stars – large balls of gases that are exploding. Our sun is one example.
Navigation – mapping or orienteering
Planets – rocky or gassy – they orbit stars to make Solar Systems
Moons – rocky or gassy - smaller bodies that orbit planets. Earth has one moon.
Satellites – ANYTHING that orbits something else. Our moon is Earth’s satellite, Earth
is a satellite of the Sun and the FOX network has TV satellites orbiting Earth.
Azimuth – the angle of measurement measured clockwise from north (N, E, S, W)
Altitude – a measurement of a body in degrees above the horizon
Altitude-Azimuth Co-ordinates – co-ordinates that determine the placement of a celestial
body in the sky based on your frame of reference.
Horizon – imaginary line in the distance when you look across Earth
Astrolabe – an upside down protractor type tool that measures angles of altitude
Compass – a tool used to find direction
Geocentric – Earth centred
Heliocentric – Sun centred
Telescope – a tool used to view things far away
Refracting Telescope – a telescope that uses lenses to bend light to see
Reflecting Telescope – a telescope that uses mirrors to bounce light
Ocular Lens – the eyepiece of a telescope
Aperture – area of a telescope that allows light to enter
Resolving Power – allows for greater detail
Ellipse – “oval” shape of planetary orbit
Orbit – moving around a larger body due to gravity
Universal Gravitation – all bodies in the universe have gravity and are attracted to all
other bodies
Gravity – force that pulls bodies toward each other
Astronomical Units (AU) – measurement of distance equal to the distance from the sun to
the Earth
Diameter – distance across a circular object at its equator
Spectrum (Electromagnetic Radiation Sepectrum) – variety of waves from radio through
visible light to gamma rays
Spectroscope – took used to get a spectral analysis of stars
Spectral Lines – bar code that tell you what elements are in stars
Spectroscopy – study of spectral lines
Diffraction Grating – produces the spectral lines
Spectral Analysis – interpreting the lines of a spectrum
Astronomers – people who stud space
Doppler Effect – when observed frequency of waves change as the source moved toward
or away from the observer
Red Shifted – when spectral lines move toward the longer red section of the spectrum
Blue Shifted – when spectral lines move toward the shorter blue side
Adaptive Optics – technology that adjusts the images in telescopes
Triangulation – using three points to determine the distance away an object is
Parallax – the angle created by the space between your eyes – creates imperfections in
measurements
Light year – the distance light will travel in one year
Radio Waves – shorter waves sometimes used in imagery
Interferometry – technology connecting two or more telescopes
Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) – inferometry over long distances
Rocket – a tube with combustable material at one end and payload at the other
Atmosphere – invisible barrier surrounding Earth
Payload – the device a rocket is carrying
Exhaust Velocity – speed at which exhaust leaves a rocket
Staged Rocket – a rocket with more than one part that separates at different times in the
launch
Ballistic Missile – a rocket with a bomb as a payload
Astronaut – person traveling is space
Cosmonaut – term for a Russian astrnaut
Sputnik – first satellite to make it to space (Russian)
Charged Couple Devices (CCD) – converts light signals to electric signals
Hubble Telescope – large telescope out in Earth’s orbit
Artificial Satellites – orbiting bodies put there by humans (TV satellites)
Geosynchronous – orbiting around Earth
Geosynchronous orbit – same
Remote Sensing – taking measurements of Earth from space
Global Positioning System (GPS)- using satellites to determine positions on Earth
Solar System – a group of planets and star(s)
Solar Wind – high energy particles streaming off the Sun
Voyager – a specific space mission (shuttle)
Apollo – another mission (shuttle)
International Space Station – artificial body in space, for astronauts, for many countries
Canadarm – robotic arm used in space and develop by Canadians
Microgravity – zero gravity
Environmental Chemistry Terms
Chemistry – the study of matter and how it changes.
Nutrients – molecules or elements required by an organism
Molecules – two or more elements boded together
Elements – a pure substance made of one type of particle
Organic Molecules – carbon-based molecules (often can biodegrade and are ‘natural’)
Inorganic Molecules – not carbon-based (often metals)
Carbohydrates – organic molecules used as energy sources in nutrition.
Proteins – organic molecules used for structure and repair.
Lipids – organic molecules used as energy storage.
Vitamins – organic molecules used in enzyme function
Minerals – inorganic molecules that make enzymes among other functions
Enzymes – natural chemicals that speed up the metabolic reaction
Metabolism – the bodies processing and using of food.
Macro – large [as in marcromolecule (large molecule) or macromineral (large mineral)]
Micro – small
Nitrogen – elemental nutrient. In plants used for
Potassium – elemental nutrient. In plants used for
Phosphorus – elemental nutrient. In plants used for
Fertilizer – chemicals and nutrients added to soil to enhance plant growth.
Pesticides – Chemicals used to kill of unwanted organisms
Herbicides – chemicals used to specifically eradicate unwanted plants
Insecticides – chemicals used to specifically eradicate unwanted insects
Fungicides – chemicals used to specifically eradicate unwanted fungae
Ppm / ppb – parts per million / billion – amount of a chemical found in an ecosystem.
Equivalent to 1mg / 1000L
DDT – specific example of a pesticide having drastic affects on the environment.
Biological Magnification or Biomagnification – the increase of concentration of
chemicals as it moves through a food chain.
Food Chain – a pathway showing “what eats what” and the direction of energy flow.
Pesticide Resistance – the ability of pests to resist chemicals over time.
Organic Agriculture – growing crops or maintaining livestock without the use of
chemicals.
Acids – chemicals with a pH lower than 7 and produce hydrogen ions
Base – chemicals with a pH higher than 7 and produce hydroxide ions.
Neutral pH – exactly 7 on the pH scale
pH Scale – measuring scale that determines chemicals as acidic or basic
Indicators – tools used to highlight
pH indicators – indicators determining acids and bases
Litmus – plant compounds used in acid/base indicating (blue means base)
Acid Precipitation – when sulfate, nitrate and carbonate molecules combine with water in
the atmosphere and fall as precipitation with a lower pH than normal
precipitation.
Neutralization – combining acids and bases and gaining a pH of 7.
Catalyst – Molecules used to speed up chemical reactions
Oxidation – when oxygen combines with of chemicals to produce other molecules
Catalytic Converter – mechanisms in vehicles to reduce pollution
Scrubbers – in factory stacks used to clean pollutants
Sorbent – substances that absorb or capture oxides.
Exam Terms
Differences - variations
Variation - differences
Interdependence – relationship between
Graphical Representation – showing stats in graph form
Advantages – benefits
Disadvantages – drawbacks
Rate – speed – how fast
Dissolves – mixed within
Excerpt – piece of
Unrelated – not related
Prevent – resist
Stimulant – provides a rush
Inorganic – not living
Concentrated – most intense
Yield – production (crops)
Responding variable – the one that the experiment depends on
Approximate – about or rough estimate